Aer Lingus flight diverts after technical problem

AN Aer Lingus flight was forced to divert and land at Shannon Airport after a technical problem forced the pilot to abort two attempts to land at Cork.

Flight EI-711 departed London Heathrow at 9.53am on Sunday with 181 passengers and was due in Cork at 11.10am. While on approach to Cork Airport the pilot notified air traffic controllers that he was “going around”. A “go-around” procedure is undertaken when a pilot decides not to land and enters a circuit to attempt another landing.

While on approach for a second landing the pilot reported a “technical problem” and stated that they were trying to resolve it. However, before the flight was due to land the pilot notified controllers that he wished to divert to Shannon. The crew reported they were receiving a “gear indiction light” and that they were “trouble-shooting” the issue. The pilot told controllers the aircraft would not be able to vacate the runway under its own power on arrival in Shannon.